Charlie Musselwhite
Delta Hardware

Despite the music business’ best intentions of turning 2003 into the "Year of
the Blues," the genre once again has slipped beneath the surface of the
mainstream’s purview, meaning that many of its most talented musicians — such as
harmonica ace Charlie Musselwhite — are likely to remain well-kept secrets. Not
that Musselwhite hasn’t flirted with widespread recognition. His contributions
to the burgeoning "white-boy blues scene" of the 1960s continue to hold sway
over blues fans young and old, and after kicking a lengthy battle with
alcoholism in the latter half of the ’80s, he reconstituted his career by not
only diversifying his sound via such choice nuggets as In My Time and
Sanctuary but also by spending his spare moments accompanying the likes of
Bonnie Raitt, Tom Waits, and Ben Harper.

On his latest endeavor Delta Hardware, Musselwhite continues, at least
in part, to shade his material with a variegated hue. However, unlike his past
outings, the diversity of his approach becomes a detriment to him in that the
album’s least interesting tracks are those that stray furthest from the blues.
Save for the short bursts of harmonica that put a charge into the opening
Church Is Out, the song’s rock ’n‘ roll jangle quickly wears thin. Likewise,
Musselwhite’s underwhelming vocals combined with an arrangement that goes
tediously awry serve only to muddle the heady, politically-minded swirl of
Black Water.

Yet, in spite of these missteps, Delta Hardware’s highlights are
downright impeccable. Both One of These Mornings and Blues for
Yesterday — the former with its rampaging rhythm and snarling guitar; the
latter with its buzzing harmonica and heavily stomping beat — are throwbacks to
Musselwhite’s days in Chicago, while the Mississippi-bred drone of Clarksdale
Boogie as well as the smoldering anguish of Just a Feeling superbly
recast more traditional blues-based architectures. Taken in full, there’s no
denying that Delta Hardware is a solidly delivered affair, but coming in
the wake of the critically lauded Sanctuary, it can’t help but be a tad
disappointing to watch as Musselwhite drifts slowly back down to Earth.

28th Annual Blues Music Award Winner:
Album of the Year

28th Annual Blues Music Award Winner:
Song of the YearChurch Is Out

28th Annual Blues Music Award Winner:
Traditional Blues Album of the Year

Delta Hardware is available from Barnes & Noble.
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